Spyros locked himself out of the van while he was delivering mail this morning (Twice in 2 weeks). Obviously his mind is elsewhere.

So I looked all over the house and couldn't find the extra key. Went to pick him up and brough him back to the house so we could both look. Still couldn't find the key. So Spyros grabbed a bracket type thing and attempted to unlock the door in our one minivan. It worked, so we went back to the other one and broke in.

So all you juvenile deliquents out there.... It's pretty damn easy to break into a minivan. Not that you should really want to go driving around looking like a soccer mom... but one never knows about the youth of today!!!

The laundry room is back to order so I'm able to get the wash done. And wouldn't you know it, since today is not my normal laundry day, it's not raining!!!

We're actually going to have 2 peaceful days up in Stevens Point and won't have to rush back on Sunday. DH took the Sunday night off from Kwik Trip and since Monday is Labor Day he doesn't have to work at the Post Office.

On Monday I will be old .... er. But since I'm the youngest of the people I know (and are friends with) when they turn a year older, they are old. But when I turn that age we're all young again. Except of course the people who are over a year older. Then they will always be old. (Said with a sassy smile)

Well my eyes are going buggy from looking at the screen, so I will be going.

Last night I tried to log onto the internet and I kept getting error messages. So this morning I told Spyros the computer was broke, and he asked if I had plugged in the stuff in his office.

Well duh.... Isn't it enough to plug in the stuff in my office???

So no post yesterday.

Today, don't have too much going on.

When we go visit Kevin and Amber's cat to feed and give lovin' to, I think we'll go to Cost Cutters afterwards and get me a haircut. I'm really looking like Wolverine from X-Men with the way my hair is feathering and sticking up like little horns.

We still have cleaning to do around the house, but it's supposed to be 92 and that really does not sound appealing. Getting all nasty....

But I think tomorrow supposed to be in the lower 70's, so that's good.

Went to the chiropractor this morning. If Spyros ever decides he no longer wants to support me and leaves, then no matter what I will date and/or marry only a chiropractor.

Then went to the library and got 4 books: Midwives (an Oprah book), Lori (by the guy who wrote Pyscho), a Marion Zimmer Bradley book (wrote Mists of Avalon) and another book.....

DH just got home, so will be going now....

Tata

We got quite a bit done this past few days! Now we have a lot of cleaning to do.

Went to a Hibatchi restuarant (Japanese restaurant where they cook the food at your table) with our friends Jodi and Chris yesterday. It was very cool and the food was delicious.

Then we toured State St. and Jodi got her nipples pierced! I don't think I would ever have the guts to do that....

Not too much else. Just sweating my butt off from the heat.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

I thought for sure the heat would break last night with the fierce storm. Lots of thunder and lightening. Then it rained for 10 minutes, that's all.

Baby Kitty hates storms so he was plastered against my body for about an hour. Then he plastered himself against my head. Then he decided the storm had passed, so he laid in his normal spot... which takes up half the bed.

Really didn't do much today. Sanded a little. Read a lot in the nice air-conditioned bedroom.

Once we more and Spyros is working less, I think we should make one day a day of rest. Perhaps other religions know what they're talking about.

Every Sunday, just doing nothing but what we want. If we read all day, so be it. If we drive around looking for great photo shots, all the better.

Perhaps we'll even make food the day before so we don't do any cooking?!?

If you have a day of rest for religious, or other reasons I would love to hear about it. Why you decided to do so. What you do all day. And anything else...

Oh, and my tatttoo appointment is set for a day before my birthday. I'm nervous, but excited. I just hope I don't pass out and poop myself like a different customer did that we heard about.

How embarrassing!!!!

Simple Thought for today: Take your time and breathe.

I was working on yet another endless fixing up chore around the house, and I was annoyed that it wasn't working so I was just trying to jam it together.

Then I stopped. Took a deep breath. And began again.

And wouldn't you know it, I was able to complete the task on the first try after relaxing.

So breathe. Really focus on your breathing. Before you fall asleep at night try it, you just might like it!!!

I am in pain. The kind of pain that makes you cry!!!

I painted the upstairs bathroom (most of it). Spyros did a little around part of the ceiling where I couldn't reach and around the toilet. But I probably did 80%

So now a muscle in the middle of my back that I never knew existed is telling me: I hate you and here's the pain to prove it.

Then when we were cleaning up the painting supplies, my DH was twirling the paint roller and it fell. With the hard part landing on my big toe (also on my left side) I screamed out: F**K, and began to cry, and then about 2 minutes later I began to laugh.

When it goes wrong, it all goes wrong. Someone should have strangled Murphy.

I began to laugh because I knew that my toenail will be falling off. Not that it's really funny, but if ya don't laugh, ya just keep crying.

It's a nasty black color. Almost like gangreen (sp?) And yes, I do know what that looks like first hand. My Grandma had it because of her diabetes and they had to amputate.

Well other than that, how was your day???

So DH decided today that we will sell the house, pay off all of your loans and move into an apartment (duplex) in Stevens Point. This is fine with me. Less stress in having to find a house. All of our loans will be paid off, so we won't owe anyone. Then we can start saving up a down payment for a house, or continue to live in the apartment.

I must say I am a bit less stressed.

And after looking at the bathroom, I don't think it will be needing another coat of paint.

One must always try to find the good, even when their toenail is going to fall offf!!!!

My Birthday is coming up soon, and my DH had no idea what to get me. (Hmm..., I didn't realize I hadn't been wanting as much stuff, but I guess I haven't). So I said I wanted to get a tattoo.

We tried about 2 years ago, but the tattoo artists we were going to go to, just happened to have a baby really close to our appointment date. (Dawn had the baby, not her husband, but anyway...)

So.... Should be interesting. I'll put a picture up with a link to it once it's done and healed up a bit.

We worked our butts off today.

Finished up Nick's old room as much as we could.

Painted the back hallway.

Clean up the back hallway bathroom really good. Got paint off the toilet and mirror from the last time we painted in there. Did a better paint job behind the toilet (which we took out) and did a better paint job around the ceiling.

Took stuff out of the laundry room. Took trim down (in the hallway too). Started patching up more holes in there to get ready to paint.

Packed up more stuff. Mainly kitchen items, towels, and some misc...

And did I mention we don't have air conditioning in the house (just a few select rooms with a window unit), so we were hot and gross.

Ugh... When will it be over?

No matter what, we are putting the house up for sale by my birthday. Even if we don't have everything done.

Whew! It's been a few days!!!

Thursday: Busy taking stuff (towel racks, light switch covers, etc...) down in upstairs bathroom and fixing some holes, getting ready to be painted.

Friday: DH took some of our stuff to a co-worker's house that he had bought. So there's even more stuff gone, which makes it much easier to move in the living room.

Today: Kevin and Amber will be coming over for lunch. Then Kevin and Spyros will be taking more stuff to another friend's house in Milwaukee that she bought. So even more stuff gone!!!

I've been working on eBay stuff. I've been putting together the last of the baby clothes into lots. So if you have kids or know someone who does let them know. It'll probably be put up this Sunday, but there may be a chance that it gets put up next Sunday depending how busy we are.

The eBay id is: sspyro Or if you're looking for a particular lot (Boys and Girls from 0 months to 24 months) let me know and I'll email you the direct link to the auction.

The people that bought our bar and bar stools are coming in about an hour, so even more stuff gone. Can you tell that I'm excited about stuff being gone???

It's becoming so clean and nice in the house, that once again our resolve to sell in floundering. Imagine that! So I'll keep you informed, since I know your life really does revolve around us.

Well this computer virus is a bummer.

Just one of the downsides to technology.

Just another reason to live more simply! (Not that I would, or am saying you should give up all modern technology, but....)

Sometimes the simple things in life are wonderful.

The smell of sheets hung out on a line and then placed on your bed.

The taste and feel of a juicy peach running down your chin.

Walking barefoot on the morning dew, while walking to an outdoor table to have your breakfast.

Stroking a cat....until your hand is covered in fur!!!!

Anyway....

Cleaned the kitchen cabinets today. They weren't too dirty, just mainly dusty with cat hair thrown in.

I'm going to list some more stuff on eBay this week, so we have less stuff to move. I've been working on writing and saving the descriptions for the items at night.

We're talking about renting an apartment for a year after the house sells. We would basically have an extra $1500 to put in the bank every month. Leaving us with almost $20,000 at the end of the year.

We would be able to pay off ALL of our debt with the sale of the house and have between $4000-$9000 (depending if we sell with a realtor, etc...) to put in the bank right away.

So after a year we would have a good down payment for a house. Plus we could begin buying T Bills to start our money making income for future years.

Sounds like a plan. The only catch that I can think of is our cat, Talia. The outdoors one that likes to kill. Living in an apartment could be hard with an outdoor cat.

But we're thinking we would get an apartment on the ground floor with a patio door that he could come and go from. Hmm... Could work?!?

Let me know your thoughts.

Hello.

This is a test.

A test to see how long you can keep your sanity.

But there really is no end to this test, so enjoy.

It's been said - by whom (or is it who) I don't really know - that buying a house is one of the most stressful things you can do. If I ever met this person I would probably strangle them for being right.

And you know what, we haven't even begun the process of putting the house up for sale or putting an offer in to buy one.

So much to do. So much I wish my Mommy would come and do it and tell me it's alright.

Yea, I have been complaining a lot. But mainly to you my dear reader. I'm trying not to complain, and only keep a smile on my tense face for DH, since I know he has it a lot worst than me since he also has to deal with working.

Or does he....????

At least he gets out of the house and doesn't have to look at the mess or think he should be doing something else instead of peeing. (Like I find myself thinking often.)

On a more positive note, we've (or actually Spyros) has created a monster. A 12 pound Kitty Monster, with the meow to send chills up your spine.

This past weekend he decided to let her outside for awhile. And cats really don't realize what a treat is. They demand more. They know it's their right to have what they want, when they want it.

So know she's meowing at the door. Often.

I would say that the sale was a success. We made $628. And got rid of a lot of stuff.

Sunday was free day. We only had 3 people show up. Two were a couple and they took away about 15 different items. They wanted to give us a little something. But we let them know that we were truly happy they were taking it and did not want anything at all for it.

I just wish more people would have shown up so we could have given away more free stuff. Oh well...

After the sale we packed up what was left (11 small boxes and 2 big boxes). Then we put the Nordic Track, 3 chairs and a small end table by the curb. We went to take down our garage sale signs (for the love of whatever, please tell me you do the same the last day of your sale!!!!) and by the time we got back all 5 items were gone, along with the free sign we put on them!!!!!

We were sooo happy. And we thought it was quite amusing since we were only gone for about 20 minutes.

One of our neighbors must have been watching out the window!

Now I just have to clean up the mess that comes along with the sale. And we're going to put huge lots of the baby clothes up on eBay.
There will be 12 auctions total. Girls 0-3, Boys 0-3, Girls 3-6, etc... Some of the lots will probably have 75 pieces of clothing. So it should be interesting to see how much they go for.

Now we are going to really focus on fixing up the house, so we can get it on the market hopefully by the end of the month.

Wish us luck!!!

Well, the first day of the sale went really well. We've made $389 so far. That will cover our Menard's bill (stuff we bought to fix up the house), with about $30 left over.

A lot of stuff sold yesterday. The big stuff that we have left are baby clothes (but hopefully more parents will be out today), the two couches and a few other furniture pieces, and adult clothes.

Whatever doesn't get sold gets packed up for St. Vinnie's. I'm thinking of putting some of the furniture on the curb Sunday and if it's gone in the morning, all the better!

Our house echoes with how empty it is. I'm getting really excited, and wish that all the fixing up was done already.

I just want to move so Spyros will work less and we'll be able to have more time to: snuggle, take pictures, go swimming, expand (educate) our minds, walk, garden, and visit with friends and family.

On another note: My BIL broke his collar bone (twice) ((was screwing around on his bike and fell, then was going upstairs and tripped instinctivly holding out his arm to catch himself and fell again.)) So he went to urgent care and they gave him a sling said he needed to see an orthopedic surgeon and passed him on.

They continued to pass him on to 6 different people. So feeling frustrated he called us yesterday and we told him to go into urgent care again (politely but firmly) tell them he needed this fixed and would not be leaving until it was.

I believe he is getting dicked around because he doesn't have insurance. This world (country) is unbelievable!!! I don't even want to get started on a tiraid of how we are the most wasteful, consumer (consuming: taking until everything is depleted) oriented country and when someone is hurt, needs food, clothes, or a home; most people do nothing to help.

So please, help in any way you can. It may be big: helping at a soup kitchen or a domestic violence shelter. Or smaller: donating food or grooming products when an organization comes around and puts bags on your door or donating old blankets to an animal shelter.

But please, do what you can. Every small (and large) bit helps. And there are always places looking for help.

I read once that when people actually volunteered their time (instead of money) they and the people they were helping got more satisfaction from the process.

So next time you're sitting around bored, go ourself or get a group of people together and volunteer to do something.

Thank you. And I am now putting my soapbox away.

I am anxious and excited about the garage sale tomorrow.

Still have stuff to do, but it'll get done. And if not, oh well....

A breeze is wafting through the window and I can smell the cut grass. Simply delicious.

Our house is a disaster. And it's really bothering me, but I keep telling myself, "Self, after the sale there will be more room and you can clean it all then."

I really don't have much else to add. Think I'm going to go to the house site and see if anyone else has put a home up for sale in the Stevens Point area.

TaTa.

Ugh... Head will explode....Evil Migraine....

Spent yesterday finding hard surfaces to use for displaying our glorious goods for the garage sale. Took about three hours to arrange the items, and I'm still not finished!!! Probably another hour.

We have one room all prepped for painting. Spyros is excited because he will get to use the new paint sprayer when he gets home to paint the room.

Frugal/Simple Thought: Before painting make sure to prep the room. Fill in those holes and sand, wash the walls, cover outlets, take down trim, cover windows and light fixtures.

If you skip doing this you'll have to scrap paint off (which sucks), have dirt creeping out from under the paint (where you didn't wash), and have lots of holes because you didn't take the time to mud.

It sucks doing it, but saves time and money by not having to repaint so soon. Unless of course you have someone viciously attack your walls with a crayon or a hammer. Then the best bet: Sell your house and move into a freshly painted one!!! (Tongue in cheek.)

It's funny how most people live in their own little world.

We told my Dad and StepMom that we were going to be moving. I called them today to see if they wanted their pottery kiln and molds back or if I should try to sell them at the garage sale.

My StepMom seemed to be in shock. Almost as if we had never told them we were getting ready to move.

So my thought for today.

Try to really listen when people talk. Absorb what they are saying. Don't just patiently (or sometimes not so patiently) wait for your turn to speak.

Stop doing other stuff if someone is talking to you. Stop surfing the web, or watching the TV, or sticking that ice pick in your ear. (Just seeing if you're actually reading what I'm writing, or just skimming.)

Trust me when I say this will do wonders for your relationships. People have a basic need of wanting to be heard (Hence so many blogs.) So Really Listen.

It's been a couple of days, I know. It's funny how fast time goes when you're running around like a chicken with it's head cut off!!!

Well.... not really. But at times it feels like it. And believe me I do know what that feels like because when I was a kid, we had chickens. And one day my Dad was getting the chickens ready to be ate and I was in the yard with him. One of the chickens who no longer had a head, was chasing me. And I swear which ever direction I went, the chicken went too. Traumatized?!? Yes, I am.

Anywho....

DH and I went to Menard's on Friday and purchased $360 worth of home improvement items. Including: a vanity and sink (only $60 on sale), a range hood, push broom, 2 five gallon buckets of paint, a gallon of primer and outdoor paint, floor vent covers, outlet covers, vanity lightbulbs, home for sale signs and a mailbox to put flyers that give information about our house.

Then Saturday MIL and BIL came over and helped Spyros move furniture that we will be selling into the garage. (Well BIL mainly helped...!) It took 3 1/2 hours to move all the stuff. Ugh.... DH and BIL were tired!! But at least it's done.

We have a couple of big things still left to move, but we're not selling them so they will wait until the house is sold.

Today DH is going to his Dad's house to bring some stuff and help with some yard work. And talk to him about getting the rest of his crap out of here since we're trying to sell.

FIL already said most of the stuff that is still here he is just going to throw away, so he just needs to take a day or two and actually do it. Yes I am very annoyed by this!!!

So today I am catching up on email, blogging and eBay stuff. Then I'll be taking more stuff out to the garages for the sale and doing some general cleaning. With 10 minute reading breaks thrown in.

So if you're someone we know that is reading this, our garage sale is this coming weekend. And we are getting rid of so much stuff that you might find a treasure or two!!!